Governor, veterans and mourners assemble

Photo by Jonathan WellsA soldier salutes the grieving family of US Army PFC David J.Bentz as they leave his funeral in Clayton on Friday.

By Stephanie Brown and Jessica Driscoll

gcnews@sjnewsco.comCLAYTON -- Three people singing and carrying signs that read "Pray for more dead soldiers" and "America is doomed" were drowned out by a group of veterans who shouted the Pledge of Allegiance here Friday morning.

Pvt. David J. Bentz III

The pickets were positioned across the street from the Clayton Post Office at Delsea Drive and Costill Avenue, far enough away from St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church that those attending the funeral for Army Pvt. David J. Bentz III couldn't see or hear them.

Ten helmeted police officers, members of the Gloucester County Emergency Response Team, stood around the trio, members of the Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kans., who have chosen to protest at funerals of fallen GIs to object to America's acceptance of homosexuality.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, the daughter of the church's founder, led the trio, with an American flag around her waist and an Army flag over her shoulder. She was joined by her son, Sam Roper, and her brother, Fred Phelps Jr. They got to the scene at about 11:15 a.m.

Bentz, 20, of Franklin Township, was killed in combat in Iraq on June 20.

Gov. Jon Corzine arrived at the church at about 10 a.m. and entered the church by walking up a path lined by approximately 40 veterans. The Last Patrol, the Patriot Guard Riders, the South Jersey Vietnam Veterans and the Semper Fidelis Marine Corps League Detachment were represented at Bentz's funeral.

Inside, Army uniforms and floppy boonie uniform hats flanked the silver coffin covered with an American flag.

Flowers around the casket were designed to represent Bentz's interests, including soccer, poker, fishing and pool.